Nigel Williams-Goss exits late in Zags win

Most of Gonzaga’s games have been stress-free and their injury list has been fairly short.

It seemed like that would continue Saturday when the fourth-ranked Zags’ lead soared into to the 20s late in the second half against the stubborn Portland Pilots.

And then Nigel Williams-Goss landed awkwardly on his left hip with just under 5 minutes left. The junior guard hobbled off the floor at the next dead ball and headed straight to the training room.

“I just went baseline and went up and got hit,” said Williams-Goss, who led the Zags with 15 points in a 73-52 victory at the McCarthey Athletic Center. “When I landed I just kind of landed on my hip, but I think I’ll be all right.”

Williams-Goss leads Gonzaga in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. He’s a strong candidate for MVP of the West Coast Conference and he’s on watch lists for player of the year awards.

Williams-Goss described the injury as “something kind of like a bone bruise. I don’t expect it to be anything more serious than that.”

Roughly 10 minutes after the game, he walked into the locker room on crutches.

“At the time (it happened), it was a lot of pain,” he said. “I couldn’t put a lot of pressure on my left leg. A couple days of treatment I think I should be good.”

Fellow point guard Josh Perkins tweaked his back during the Saint Mary’s game and was limited to just 16 minutes. He seems to be back to normal and has averaged 30 minutes in the last two games.